Bowling ball construction



p 1961 F. c. INSETTA BOWLING BALL CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 28, 1960 INVENTOR FRANK C INSETTA 7%4 3 1. F M C 3 4 4 mu m. w y I A B wnww- Ill IlllEI...

in/La ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1961 F. c. INSETTA 3,001,793

BOWLING BALL CONSTRUCTION Filed March 28, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.9 FIG.I2 F'IGJS FIG.|3 F'IG.I6

3 41 37 la I 39 39 l 39 43 F'|G.l4 FIG.I7

INVENTOR. FRANK C. INSETTA ATTORNEY nited States 3,001,793 BOWLING BALL CONSTRUCTION Frank C. Insetta, 232 Fingerboard Road, Staten Island,

N.Y., assignor of twenty-five percent to Francis J.

Pisarra,.Ridgewood, N.J., and fifteen percent to John Insetta, Brooklyn, NY.

Filed Mar. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 18,140 14 Claims. (Cl. 273-63) Oftentimes a bowlers thumb becomes swollen due to various reasons and, continued bowling with a ball having a thumb opening of a certain size, will result in pain and possible bruising of the thumb.

Also, a bowler may prefer to use a ball having a certain span between the thumb opening and a finger opening at one time and a different span, i.e. a greater or a lesser span, at another time. If the bowler does not have access to a ball having proper size openings and desired span between openings, the ball which he is obliged to use is neither comfortable nor is the feel satisfactory. As a result, his playing enjoyment is reduced and his scoring ability will very likely be adversely affected.

The pitch of the thumb-receiving opening is an important factor in attaining a proper and comfortable grip ona bowling ball. As in the case of the span between openings, many bowlers find it desirable to vary the pitch from time to time.

Withthe advent of automatic pin setting equipment, bowling has become one of the leading national sports. It is enjoyed today bymillions of men, women and children in this country and is growing in popularity in other countries. Most bowling enthusiasts own at least one bowling ball. It is understood that the majority of professional bowlers and a number of non-professional bowlers own several such balls having different size thumb openings, different spans between openings and/ or differently pitched openings. Investing in several bowling balls is so expensive that most bowlers cannot afford to own more than one ball.

This invention overcomes the above-discussed objections to conventional bowling balls as will be apparent from the detailed description that follows.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a bowling ball having a novel and improved insert assembly for defining an opening in the ball for receiving the thumb or a finger of a bowler.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bowling ball having an insert assembly which includes a removable tubular element having an opening of predetermined size, ofi'set and pitch, which may be readily replaced by a similar element having a different size, offset and/or pitch.

A further object of the invention is to provide an insert assembly which may be advantageously employed with used or new bowling balls.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a bowling ball with an insert assembly of the character indicated which is simple and compact in design, which is sturdy and durable in construction, which is reasonable in manufacturing costs, and which is capable of performing its intended functions in an entirely satisfactory manner.

The foregoing objects and additional objects, together with the advantages of this invention, will be apparent to persons trained in the art from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings which describe and illustrate, by way of example, a bowling ball embodying the invention.

Inthe drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several. views:

FIG. 1 is a plan. view of a bowling ball constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in enlargement taken along line Z-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a lock unit which is also shown in'FIG. 3;

.FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the lock unit shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. -6 is a view taken along line 6'-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of a key for operating the lock unit;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan View of the key shown in FIG. 7; V FI,G. 9 is a top plan view of a tubular insert which is also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; V

FIG. 10 is a view in elevation of FIG. 9, parts being broken away for better illustration;

FIG. 11 isa view taken along linen- 1 1 of FIG. 10, partly'broken away for better illustration;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a housing which is also shown in FIG.'2;

FIG. 13 is a view in elevation of FIG. 12, partly broken away for'better illustration;

FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view taken along line l5-15 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a View taken along'line 1616 of FIG, 13; and

FIG. 17 is a view taken along line 1717 of FIG. 13.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated in FIG. 1 a bowling ball 20 having a pair of openings formed therein. One of these openings is identified by numeral 21 and is intended to receive a finger of a bowler. The other opening is formed by and in a removable insert assembly, which is generally denoted by numeral 22, and is intended to receive the bowlers thumb. Assembly 22 is positioned in a blind bore 23 in the bowling ball (FIG. 2). The upper end portion of the bore is slightly larger in diameter than the remainder thereof and is defined in part by an inner annular shoulder 24. Threads are formed in the bore immediately below shoulder 24, as indioated at 25. Bore 2.3 has a conventional pitch relative to a radius of the ball.

Assembly 22 consists of a plurality of interconnected and cooperatively associated devices, namely a tubular liner or bushing B, a bushing lock pin P, a tubular insert I, an insert lock housing H and a lock unit L. The illustrated construction also includes a key K for operating the lock unit. The above enumerated devices, with the exception of lock pin P and key K, are molded from suitable materials, tubular insert I being preferably made. of an appropriate hard rubber composition which may be the same as or similar to the material of the ball, and bushing B, lock housing H and lock unit L being preferably made of nylon. Pin P is preferably made of a corrosion resistant metal, such as brass, while key K is made of a suitable metal, such as steel.

Bushing B is provided at its upper end with threads 26 which engage threads 25 in bore 23. The inner surface of the lower end of the bushing is flared downwardly and outwardly, as indicated at 27. An opening 28, which is defined in part by the bowling ball and in part by the bushing, is adapted to receive lock pin P, whereby the bushing is restrained against movement in the bore when the parts are assembled.

Insert I is best shown in FIGS. 9, and 11 and comprises a right circular cylindrical tubular body 30 and an outwardly projecting annular flange 31 at the upper end of the body. The top surface 32 of the flange is a portion of the face of a sphere having the same diameter as the bowling ball. Flange surface 32 is flush with and constitutes a continuation of the surface of the bowling ball when the insert is in proper position, as shown in FIG. 2. The flange has an indicia 32' which is adapted to align with a similar indicia (not shown) on the bowling ball in accurately positioning the insert at the time of assembly. The lower end of the insert is provided with pairs of dovetail tongues 33 and grooves 34.

Reference is next had to FIGS. 12 through 17 which illustrate details of construction of housing H. The housing is also right circular cylindrical and its outside diameter is preferably identical with that of tubular insert 1. The housing is provided with pairs of dovetail tongues 35 and grooves 36. It will be apparent from an examination of FIG. 2 that the tongues of housing H register with the grooves of insert I and vice-versa whereby the housing and the insert are detachably interlocked and restrained against relative axial movement. The lower end portion of housing H is provided with a plurality of slots 37, 38 and 39 of varying width to obtain pluralities of guide fingers 40 and flexible locking fingers 41 and 42. All fingers are similarly configured and are internally grooved, as indicated at 43 in FIGS. 14 and 15. Each finger 42 is formed with a vertical stop rib 44 (FIG. 17).

Lock unit L is best shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 and includes a body 45 and a pair of integral, diametrically opposed sector-like wings 46. A keyway 47 extends through the center of body 45. The keyway may be hexagonal, as shown, or of any other desired non-circular configuration. Wings 46 are relieved, as indicated at 48, to facilitate turning the lock unit in use. Each wing 46 is provided with a peripheral cam 50. As is shown in FIG. 4, these cams are diametrically opposed to each other. Referring next to FIGS. 7 and 8, key K is generally T-shaped and consists of a shank 51, a handle 52 at the upper end of the shank and a head 53 at the lower end of the shank. Head 53 is hexagonal in transverse crosssection and is adapted to register with keyway 47 of lock unit L.

In assembling the illustrated form of the invention, bushing B is first inserted in bore 23 to the extent shown in FIG. 2 with threads 26 interengaging threads 25 and with portions of the ball and bushing defining opening 28. Lock pin P is now inserted in opening 28 to restrain the bushing against movement relative to the ball. Lock unit L is mounted in housing H while the housing is supported in inverted position from that shown in the drawings. With the housing in such inverted position, guide fingers 40 are flexed outwardly a sufficient extent to allow the lock unit to be introduced into the housing and register with finger grooves 43. At this time, lock unit L is in unlocked position in the housing and is turned in a counter-clockwise direction firom the position shown in FIG. 3 so that cams 50 are out of engagement with the fingers and project into slots 38. Housing H is then connected to tubular insert I through the medium of their tongues 33 and 35 and grooves 34 and 36. The thus interconnected insert I and housing H are then inserted in bushing B and positioned therein as illustrated in FIG. 2. With the parts in this position, flange 31 bears against shoulder 24 and flange upper surface 32 merges with the periphery of the ball. It will be observed that flange 31 extends across the upper end of opening 28 and thereby serves to retain pin P in that opening.

Key K is now introduced into the opening defined by insert I and housing H and is manipulated so that its head 53 registers with central opening 47 in the lock unit. The lock unit is then turned through the medium of the key a suflicient extent to cause its cams 50 to engage and flex fingers 41 and 42 outwardly into frictional holding engagement with the flared surface 27 of the bushing. Such holding engagement is suflicient to maintain insert I and housing H in position in the bushing and prevent movement of the insert and housing relative to the bushing. FIG. 2 illustrates the parts in locked position. To unlock the parts, the key is turned in a reverse direction.

When it is desired to remove the insert and the housing from the bushing, lock unit L is first operated to unlock position. The key is then moved downwardly through lock opening 47 so that its head 53 is positioned below the lock unit. The key is then turned slightly so that on upward movement its head will bear against the lower surface of the lock unit. Continued upward movement of the key will raise the lock unit, the housing and the insert upwardly through bushing B and effect withdrawal of these parts from the bushing.

The longitudinal passage in tubular insert I is denoted by numeral 54 in FIG. 2. This serves as the thumbreceiving opening of the ball. The size of this opening may be readily changed to comfortably accommodate thumbs of different size by substituting in the assembly tubular inserts I having correspondingly increased or decreased intern'al diameters. In other words, if opening 54 forms too snug or too loose a fit with the bowlers thumb, another tubular insert which is identical with the illustrated tubular insert, except that it has a larger or a smaller internal diameter, is substituted in the assembly, as required.

The span between openings 54 and 21 may be readily changed. This is accomplished by substituting a tubular insert I whose longitudinal axis, instead of being coaxial with bushing B as shown, is offset the necessary extent from the axis of the bushing.

As was stated earlier herein, the pitch of bore 23 and, therefore, of bushing B and tubular insert I is conventional. This may be readily altered by substituting a tubular insert I in which the longitudinal axis of opening 54 is so angulated relative to the normal longitudinal axis that desired ultimate pitch is attained.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that if a bowler owns or has access to a set of tubular inserts I having longitudinal passage which vary in internal diameter, offset and/or pitch, he will be able to easily and quickly make necessary alterations in his bowling ball to meet his requirements at any given time.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the objects, advantages, construction and operation of my present invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art, without further description. Although the invention has been herein shown and described in a simple and practicable form, it is recognized that certain parts thereof are representative of other parts which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details described herein, but is to be accorded the full scope and protection of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a ball including means defining a bore which extends inwardly and downwardly from the peripheral surface of the ball, a portion of the inner surface of said means being flared downwardly and outwardly, tubular means positioned in said bore, said tubular means being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots which extend upwardly from its lower extremity to obtain a plurality of fingers which are adapted to be flexed, a portion of each finger being positioned adjacent said flared surface, a rotary lock unit carried by the tubular means, camming means responsive to rotational movement of the lock unit in one direction for flexing the fingers outwardly and into frictional holding engagement with said flared surface, and means '15 carried by the fingers and engageable by the lock unit for preventing movement of the lock unit axially of the tubular means.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the tubular means is removably positioned within said bore and wherein the lock unit is supported by the fingers and is positioned wholly within the peripheral confines of the tubular means.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the lock unit registers with inner grooves formed in the fingers within the peripheral confines of the tubular means and is rotatable about an axis which is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the tubular means.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the camming means is integral with the lock unit.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the lock unit registers with inner grooves formed in the fingers and is positioned wholly within the peripheral confines of the fingers and wherein the camming means is integral with the lock unit.

6. In combination with a ball having a bore extending inwardly and downwardly from its peripheral surface, a bushing wholly within said bore and anchored to the ball, the inner surface of the lower end of the bushing being flared downwardly and outwardly, tubular means removably positioned in the housing, said tubular means being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots which extend upwardly from its lower extremity to obtain a plurality of fingers which are adapted to be flexed, a portionof each finger being positioned adjacent said flared surface, a rotary lock unit carried by the tubular means, camming means responsive to rotational movement of the lock unit in one direction for flexing the fingers outwardly and into frictional holding engagement with said flared surface and means carried by the fingers and engageable by the lock unit for preventing movement of the lock unit axially of the tubular means.

7. In combination with a ball having a bore extending inwardly and downwardly from its peripheral surface, a bushing wholly within said bore and anchored to the ball, the inner surface of the lower end of the bushing being flared downwardly and outwardly, tubular means removably positioned in the bushing, said tubular means being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots which extend upwardly from its lower extremity to obtain a plurality of fingers which are adapted to be flexed, a portion of each finger being positioned adjacent said flared surface, a lock unit carried by the tubular means and engaging the fingers, said lock unit being rotatab lc about an axis which is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the tubular means, camming means responsive to rotational movement of the lock unit in one direction for flexing the fingers outwardly and into frictional holding engagement with said flared surface, and means carried by the fingers and engageable by the lock unit for preventing movement of the lock unit axially of the tubular means.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the tubular means includes an outwardly projecting annular flange at its upper end, said flange overlying the upper end of the bushing, the outer surface of the flange being substantially flush with and constituting a continuation of the peripheral surface of the ball.

9. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the tubular means includes a tubular body and a tubular housing, said body and housing being provided with interconnected tongues and grooves which prevent relative axial movement but permit relative transverse movement between the body and the housing, said fingers being formed in the housing.

10. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the tubular means includes a tubular body, an outwardly projecting annular flange at the upper end of the body, said flange overlying the upper end of the bushing, the outer surface of the flange being substantially flush with and constituting a continuation of the peripheral surface of the ball, a tubular housing extending below the lower end of the body, said body and housing being provided with inter-connected tongues and grooves which prevent relative axial movement but permit relative transverse movement between the body and the housing, said fingers being formed in the housing.

11'. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the flange is circular and wherein the body and the housing are right circular cylindrical and have the same outside diameter,

12. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the lock unit registers with grooves formed in the fingers and is positioned wholly within the housing.

13. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the camming means is integral with the lock unit.

14. The combination according to claim 10 wherein the lock unit registers with grooves formed in the fingers and is positioned wholly within the housing and wherein the camming means is integral with the lock unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 631,765 Burk Aug. 22, 1899 2,435,327 Seurynck Feb. 3, 1948 2,436,976 Seurynck Mar. 2, 1948 2,529,024 Jones Nov. 7, 1950 2,681,226 Lerro et a1 June 15, 1954 2,842,367 Keith July 8, 1958 

